Blank Stare

The First Encounter

Ishmael was mildly amused and utterly confused at the same time.

Usually, people tends to expect surprises from everywhere on their birthday. Whether they entered a room or met a suspicious person or found any object in their closet or something they expect something surprising is going to happen and if it does then they act tough like its nothing or they are used to it. Well, for Ishmael , the current situation is kinda complicated. It was his 19th birthday and he was just coming home from school in the afternoon. He was broke treating some of his friend and decided to come home by walking while he could enjoy alone wondering here and there.

Then suddenly a red haired put him off balance !

It was not like he was afraid of girls or something. Even the fact that he was ever-single wasn't because of his shyness rather his lack of interest in girls. He expected a lot from them in various ways and ended up in expecting way more than any girl could ever fulfil. It was slightly because of his superiority complex and slightly because he always felt someone was always waiting for him. Someone so magnificent, so divine that she will put him off balance the moment he would see her.

Well, definitely not this red haired !

The red haired was a young girl in her late 20s, with a well-built figure, cute yet strong women-like face and sharp green eyes. She was looking at Ishmael with the expression of astonishment, fright and somewhat relived. Ishmael wasn't sure whether he ran into her or she was waiting for him there but he noticed that the moment their eyes met she somehow recognized him and her eyes got struck in his. At first, Ishmael thought he would just ignore her and go away while she would figure out that the one she is looking for or the one she thought Ishmael was ; wasn't actually him. But Ishmael too got his eyes struck in her without realizing. He tried with all might to figure out if she was actually someone whom he knew but nothing crossed his mind. Before he knew he was utterly confused and mildly amused at this girl's behavior. 

This silence would have continued for an eternity if the girl didn't bother to speak first. She started with an apology.

"Sorry, Did I scare you? Actually I was waiting for one of my friend here and you just ... you just ... look exactly like him !" 

"Oh! Don't worry, it happens" Ishmael said in return though he was not sure if that's all there to say. Even she mistook him for someone else; her frightening and somewhat relieved expression told him something different. It's more like I was frightened knowing who you are but relieved to know that you don't know me.

"Are you new here? Do you need any help?" Ishmael thought at least this much courtesy she deserved.

"Thanks, but don't worry. I am fine on my own. Sorry again for this bother" She said with a bright smile.

"Ok, then. Take care." Ishmael said while trying to move away as fast as he could from her.

The truth is Ishmael was a bit scared. Not for her sudden appearance or her weird expressions; he was scared out of his instinct. The air around her was astonishingly frightening and he could see her blank eyes within. 

From childhood Ishmael was fond of the term "Blank Eyes". Even though, he created the term himself and first used it to define himself, he was somehow obsessed over the term and used it judge people whenever he met someone for the first time. According to him, the term "Blank Eyes" means the eyes of someone who apparently knows all the truths of the world, all the secrets, patterns, even the future thus loses their emotions and becomes a monster. A blank eyed person would look at the corpse of their acquaintances and would feel nothing. They would just pass by and try to analyze how he died or how he felt when he died or how things would turn out now he is dead. As Ishmael is a sometimes blank eyed person he knows their true potential and their horror.

Figuring out either someone is a blank eyed or not is not something analytical. It's the matter of the sub-conscious mind, the instinct and Ishmael's instinct confirmed him that she was one. The problem is how he would act when he would see one. As a blank eyed he was deeply interested in other blank eyed persons and would often search for them. But that is only true when his other self awakens. In his current state, he is as scared as a prey becomes when it sees its predator lying beside it. That's why he tried to move away from her as soon as possible.

Well, At least he tried !

 "On second thought," a voice said from behind " Would you kindly bother to accompany me for an hour or so? "

Ishmael knew who said it and knew that he obviously wont BOTHER such but he turned back to the girl slightly out of instinct and slightly for his interest as to see the blank eyed for the last time.

That was a terrible mistake !

The look of the girl was absolutely different from what he had seen before. She was no longer I am  an innocent girl waiting for someone  or something like that rather her expression was like I am a monster so are you, Let's have a chat about our interest. To be honest, Ishmael expected a more frightening reaction from himself upon seeing the girl's new face but he was feeling something else which he have never experienced before neither he expected to experience

Fulfilment of his expectation !

The red haired was not even slightly close to be called divine from Ishmael's perception but as his monster slowly started awaken and take over him he thought that this might be the one who can fulfil his expectation. In fact, she might be the one who can come even slightly closer to his monstrous self and end his solitude as a lone monster. Well, that depends on whether she can keep up with his monster.

Time to put this red-haired into a test !

"Actually, I would love to" Ishmael said with a bright smile, "as it's my birthday and spending time with a beautiful stranger would be something memorable and refreshing for me" and entertaining too  "But you said you are waiting for someone, right? Are you like waiting for someone to pick you up for home or meeting someone here for a date or something like that?" Are there any monster like you around  " because you don't seem familiar with this place at all ! Kinda out of place I would say."

" Well nothing like that" the girl seemed a bit sad " The truth is today is the death anniversary of my friend. We promised to meet here ... but ... I just came here to wait for him if... he ever comes back. Well, it seems like a bad idea so I thought about going back to home ...then..." she couldn't finish.

"Then?" Ishmael said as he took a seat beside her.

"Then I saw you" the red haired said with a cute smile " You look exactly like that friend of mine ... a bit younger though... like I am seeing him in the past ... and I thought spending time with you would be great if you didn't mind."

The monster in him knew something was wrong. And his amusement grew stronger as he slowly figured out what was wrong.

I have met this girl before !